Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-09

though au angry Husn mounted to his
forehead. "lf these, then, are the cOndi-
tions proposed by Mr.. Boulanger accept
them. | will send you two of my COM
rades from the regiment at once"
n
At the workshops or Farrell & Co., in
Brooklyn, work upon the two aerostats
was promptly begun and energetically
pushed forward, under the supervision Of
the seconds representing Col. Davis and
Paul Boulanger.
The two machines we're exactly similar
in every detail. Each measured thirty
five feet in height and about twenty at its
greatest diameter. A fortnight sufficed
tor their completion. They were tested
and found satisfactory.
On the day fixed for the meeting-the
20th of May, IS, the principals in the
affair had only to present themselves, ac-
companied by their seconds. at the spot
chosen by the latter. This was a
private park on Washington Heights.
overlooking the Hudson, but quite
secluded both by It's elevation and by
the woods which hemmed it in on three
sides.
1t was early dawn. The ascent was to
be made at sunrise. The two balloons.
inflated to their full capacity, pulled
lightly at their anchorages, scarcely
hundred yards apart. The morning
was fair and calm, though a light
breeze from the northwest stirred the
treetOps.
The combatants came upon the ground
from opposite directions, Boulanger ap-
peared cold. impassive, preoccupied with
his vengeance. Col. Davis also retained
his outward composure, though with a
visible effort.
Each stepped into the circular wicker
work Of the anrioI ahin nrnVfIo6 fo
him. In the bottom lay number OF sand
bags, and against the side leaned a Win
chester rifle.
"Are you readyr' cried Willard Ham,
ilton.
LET go!" responded the seconds OF Col.
Davis.
From the shrubbery near the Iatter's
balloon darted the slight, veIled figure of
a woman. At the very instant the an
chOrages were cast off she threw her
self into the car, anu tossing out several
of the sand bags to adjust the weight, eX-
claimed:
"YOur danger shall be mine, for 1t Is l
who have caused lt?"
"Heavens!" cried her COMPANION
shaken with violent emotion. ''ThIs is
madness! 1t is too late now to go back;
but If earthly power can save us Will do
my best"
AS lutbC UOiuS HeIc SDOhtH but bWO
aerOstats shot into the air, keeping well
together.
Had Paul Boulanger W itnessed that
episode at starting? Could he now per-
ceive7 that figure crOuching at the bottom
Of his adversary's car?
VINO knows?
He certainly gave no sign, but sat
grimly holding his rifle, his eyes fixed
upon the other balloon as if it bad
been'a deer which he was waiting to come
ia rangeI+9d
The spectacle unrolled beneath the
aerOnauts was a magnificent one, had
their eyes been free to dwell upon it..
There laythe long, narrow island metro.
polls, bounded by It's glistenlng waters
the Hudson on the one hand and the
estuary of Long Island sound on the
other. The blocks of houses looked
like Nuremburg toys, and Central
Park lay like an oblong green mat in their
midst
At height Of perhaps 1000 feet the
two balloons entered an atmospheric cur
rent which bore them gently along in a
soutbeasterly direction. They passed
over the twin spires OF st. Georges. and
crossed the East River above the Brook
lyn bridge, which. in the morning sunlight,
resembled o SPIDERS web thrown across
a tiny riTulet. The sounds fOf the two
cities-steam whistles, bells, and the roar
OF railway trains--rOse with startling dis
tinctness ae the aerOstats drifted along
like two bits Of thistle. down. They were
moving IN the direction of Coney Island
and the Atlantic Ocean.
BOulanger raised his rifle. The balloons
were beginning to drift apart, and the
range was already a long one.
ARE you ready" he cried.
81 am ready" came the response OF
Col. DAVIS in voice as clear rs MS
own.
The detonations of the two rifles were
almost simultaneous.
The two clouds of smoke had scarcely
cleared away W hen 1t became evident that
the Canadian bullet had gone straight 10
its mark, while that OF his adversary had
missed. Already the balloon occupied by
Col. Davis aud his companion fOated
less lightly upon the Invisible stream Of
the air.
Meanwhile they bad mounted gradually,
and were now half mile above the white
line OF ocean breakers, which already
rolled beneath them.
The officer raised his rifle n second time:
but, before hecould fire, a bullet from BOu-
langeTs ear shattered his arm and the
weapon dropped into the sea.
Obeying the Impulsion OF n counter cur
rent OF air, the disabled balloon. which
had sprung upward as the heavy rife
dropped, verged OF toward the Nave
sml; Highlands. while its companion
aerostat took a course more directly sea-
ward.
through the two boles pierced by Bou-
langer's bullet IN the slIken globe which
supported his Rdversary's car the gas es-
capped with an OminOus Missing sound.